UK pork sales boosted by British love of breakfast

According to MCA Insight, pork dishes eaten out and about increased by three percent in 2018 to 1.95 billion, growing its share of the out-of-home meat market to 32.5 percent.

People ‘pigging out’ at breakfast grew by five percent to 755 million meals, dinner also by five percent to 194 million and snacks four percent to 524 million. Only lunch lost out, declining by three percent to 480 million meals featuring pork products, reflecting a drop in lunchtime visits across eating out as a whole.

Traditional favourites sausage sandwiches were up 14 percent, sausage rolls up 10 percent and bacon sandwiches up three percent. With breakfast booming across the board and spend increasing to £5.29 a visit, hash browns also benefitted from being on the side, featuring in two percent more meals last year.

Across all food service, quality and taste remain the key consideration for customers but cheap prices and good value have risen in importance.

Coffee shops and cafes have grown in popularity, now making up 15 percent of total eating out. Food-to-go is also outperforming wider food service, now holding a third share of the market.

Kim Malley, AHDB Senior Retail Insight Analyst, said: “Eating breakfast out of home is becoming more popular as consumers are increasingly time limited, aiding food-to-go growth too. So traditional fare like bacon and sausage sandwiches is benefiting. This positive trend provides further opportunities to get pork on the menu.”